As October 31 approaches, it’s time to start thinking of the scary, sparkly—or more subtly seasonal—elements you’ll incorporate into your annual Halloween decorating scheme. Will you go glam or goth? Eerie or elegant? Whatever your spooky style, here’s a showstopper that doubles as decor and dessert: That’s right, this fanciful cookie and candy mansion, made with black cocoa powder and muscovado sugar, is completely edible—a break-and-eat treat that’s as fun to munch on as it is to make.
To take your haunted house to the next level, garnish it with some ghoulish occupants, like candy ghosts, vampire bats, and mini headstones crafted from silicone Halloween candy molds. For a shortcut, you can also use ready-made sweets like gummy eyeballs and marshmallow jack-o-lanterns. Use your imagination!
No time get your DIY on? Etsy sellers are at the ready with handmade sweets, supplies, and kits guaranteed to dress up your dessert spread.

Step 1: Make the cookie house
You will need:
- 1/2 pound unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons muscovado sugar*
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup black cocoa powder, plus more if needed
- Pinch of salt
- Parchment paper
- Haunted house templates
Muscovado sugar is unrefined and deep in color, with a molasses flavor, so it contributes to the cookie’s dark color and sturdiness. If you can’t find muscovado sugar locally, then dark brown sugar can be substituted in an equal amount.

Mix the dough. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugars together until just incorporated. Do not over-mix at this stage or the cookies may spread while baking.
Add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix again on low speed, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl intermittently as needed.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, and salt. Add to the butter and egg mixture, and mix on low speed until a dough has formed and there are no longer any streaks of butter in the mixing bowl. (The dough will often clump around the paddle attachment while being mixed; this is normal and a good sign that your dough is the right consistency.)
If your mixture does not come together and is crumbly, add ice-cold water one tablespoon at a time until the dough clumps. If the dough is too sticky to handle, add additional cocoa powder one tablespoon at a time until it is no longer sticky.

Roll the dough flat between sheets of parchment paper and chill until ready for use, at least 30 minutes.

Print out the house templates, then cut out each shape and place atop the chilled dough. Cut the dough along the edges of the templates, using a small paring knife for areas of detail, like the eaves of the roof.

Use a large spatula and your hand to carefully transfer the cut-dough pieces to parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake the cookies at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until the cookies are fragrant and slightly puffed. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet.
Step 2: Assemble and decorate the haunted house
You will need:
- 12-inch round cake board
- Black wrapping paper and clear tape
- 5 ounces semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips
- Disposable piping bag or zip-top bag
- 2 ounces white candy melts
- 2 ounces orange candy melts
- Yellow icing sheet
- Food color marker in black or blue
- Kitchen scissors
- Corn syrup and artist’s brush
- 10 chocolate wafers, crushed
- Halloween-themed silicone mold (optional)
Before you begin assembling the house, cover the cake board with the wrapping paper and secure it with tape on the underside. Set aside.
Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 100% power in 30-second intervals and stir until smooth; transfer to a disposable piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped.

Assemble the house. Attach the front of the house to the side using melted chocolate. It may be helpful to use a support to keep the pieces upright; I used a 14-ounce can, but you could also use a heavy mug or tumbler. Let the pieces dry for about 30 minutes. Attach the remaining pieces to the house using the chocolate, moving the can as you go so that it supports the newly added pieces. Allow the house to dry completely.

Carefully transfer the structure to the covered cake board. Pipe the chocolate (reheat if necessary) around the top edges and place the roof piece flat on top. Allow chocolate to harden.

Meanwhile, use the leftover melted chocolate to create characters using a silicone mold. You can also use white and orange melted candy in the same way. Transfer the silicone mold to the refrigerator to harden while you decorate the house.

Make the windows. The luminous windows are created using a yellow icing sheet. Icing sheets are paper-like sheets of sugar and food starch. You can find them at most craft stores in the baking aisle; they can also be ordered online.
Remove the yellow icing sheet from the package and peel off the clear acetate backing. Use kitchen scissors to cut small shapes for doors and windows.

Use the food color marker to draw on window panes and doorknobs. Lightly brush the backs of the icing sheet pieces with corn syrup and arrange them on the front of the house.

Add finishing touches. Take the silicone mold from the refrigerator and remove the hardened candy character pieces. Use leftover melted chocolate or candy to affix spooky candy residents on and around the house.
Sprinkle crushed chocolate wafers on the cake board around the house to mimic fresh soil. Place candy tombstones upright in the crushed wafers — then step back to admire your delectable handiwork!

Finally, complete the creepy scene with some terrifyingly cute tabletop decor.

62 comments
Sukran Kirtis from SukranKirtisJewelry said 4 years ago
I don't think I have a talent to make a cookie house but would like to purchase for my 7 years old boy...
Katrina Dzerkale from Dominna said 4 years ago
Such fun project !
Jeannie from heartfeltwhimsy said 4 years ago
I had never heard of icing sheets. I will have to look for them. Thanks for the great ideas!
Miss B from HeyThatsMyJam said 4 years ago
SO CUTE! How creative, I love Halloween
June from isewcute said 4 years ago
Clever & cute! My kiddos would love this project!
Pathumwadee Pathumwan from Hippiegardenshop said 4 years ago
oh cool!
Teerasak Borkam from TribalAndHarem said 4 years ago
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Kashuen Collectibles from Kashuen said 4 years ago
What a great idea. It's going to be so much fun.
Madeleine Keller from ThoseGoodVibrations said 4 years ago
I wondered when the Etsy Blog would start doing Halloween stuff. Thanks for sharing this, it's so cute :)
accentonvintage from accentonvintage said 4 years ago
Great fun project and you can eat it too!
Sue from SuesAkornShop said 4 years ago
Looks yummy!
Loribeth from MomentsOfArt said 4 years ago
I'm not a big fan of Halloween, but this is a really cute idea.
Andrea Gilletti from KillinMeSoftly said 4 years ago
Soooo cute!
aressa from OriginalBridalHanger said 4 years ago
How awesome is this? I just adore this house...Thanks for sharing....
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 4 years ago
Great idea! My nephew will love it!
Greg and Mary from LightingAlchemy said 4 years ago
Great idea! Love it!
Lemonada Designs from LemonadaDesigns said 4 years ago
Great idea! Just wondering how to make it gluten free? L share if I figure out. :)
Nicole from KarmaCodeOne said 4 years ago
PreTTy darn haunting cute !
Sujata from TreasuredMemoryLane said 4 years ago
What a fun project1 Thanks for sharing.
Flair Nouri from FlairPaintings said 4 years ago
Such a lovely project!!! Looks so good :)
Renee from RandMhandmade said 4 years ago
Great idea!! Thank you!
ClassicMemories from ClassicMemories said 4 years ago
That is spook-tacular.
Hairbow Co from HairbowSuppliesCo said 4 years ago
Yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
Teerasak Borkam from TribalAndHarem said 4 years ago
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Sudarat Sungkaew from mudyomthai said 4 years ago
I have characterized a unique syncretic your store.
Sally from SallysVintageKitchen said 4 years ago
Great idea! Thank you for sharing!
Nerrissa W from RecycledWares said 4 years ago
So adorable. This also has given me an idea for a clay sculpture for halloween. I think I might build a haunted house out of clay after seeing this.
AMSkrafts from AMSkrafts said 4 years ago
This looks spooky-delicious! Great festive idea for the Halloween celebrations, thank you for sharing this recipe!
nicorisan from JapaneseCraftsNicori said 4 years ago
Wow!
Rachel Bingaman from BingArt said 4 years ago
Oh wow! This is too neat! Love this time of year and spooky decor is always fun with my little ones :)
Cristy Ramos from ArtisanBathandBody said 4 years ago
Deliciously spooky! Thank you for sharing ♥
FluffyFlowers from FluffyFlowers said 4 years ago
This looks super fun. I love Halloween!
One Stop Steampunk Shoppe from OneStopSteamShoppe said 4 years ago
Love this!! Great feature! : D
Ashley Lucas from LadyLucasStore said 4 years ago
This idea is adorable! I noticed edible houses are in vogue this season - your design is lovely ;) Happy Halloween!
Raimund Stichter said 4 years ago
cool...
Kfir from KinArtBoutique said 4 years ago
Yayyyy!!!
Denise Vining from kadydesigns said 4 years ago
This is so cute!! I've made gingerbread houses before so I would definitely make this!! Thanks for sharing!
Tanya from TanyaToys said 4 years ago
Nice ideas, thanks!
emaxtees from EmaxTees said 4 years ago
I am hungry :)
Melissa from adorablyimperfect said 4 years ago
I wish I was talented enough to make this. I love it! Thanks for sharing ideas!
charmiesonline from charmiesonline said 4 years ago
We always make a gingerbread haunted house but will definitely try this one.
Jacqueline Whitmore from CopperhiveVintage said 4 years ago
SUPER CUTE!
Nedra Foster from Rainbowtribe said 4 years ago
love it
JOANNA from BUSTANI said 4 years ago
Great idea! Love it!
Melissa from PostRoadEstates said 4 years ago
Love Halloween! Looks like a fun project! My granddaughter would just love it!
renee and gerardo from GTDesigns said 4 years ago
cute meets yummy!! love this idea, passing it on to my sister for my nieces/nephew. we may do a 'practice run' just for fun!! tfs!!
Lia from EcoCrochetArt said 4 years ago
Great idea!
babybayrs from babybayrs said 4 years ago
Amazing! Heather Baird makes things look easy and lovely!
deardear from deardearArt said 4 years ago
funny project !
Maryanne and John Fender from FenderMinerals said 4 years ago
Fun for Halloween. I love Halloween, it is Mardi Gras for the rest of the world
Tiana Kotskulich Precious Embroidery from TianaHandmade said 185 days ago
Amazing project! My famaly would have great fun making it!
lucysconfections from lucysconfections said 185 days ago
Great! I love it
Ana Paula from macraMe said 174 days ago
Happy Halloween!!!! :-) :-)
ciaffi from ciaffi said 174 days ago
Great work!!!! Great party!!!
Sharon from YearsAfter said 174 days ago
Love the Scary Scrumptious treats! Great ideas!
Maria from EcoLinenShopArt said 174 days ago
Klassss) So I'll do it with my daughter)
Marisa Lara said 172 days ago
Gosto de peças temáticas,estou sempre procurando mais inspirações e e artigos diferentes
Stefka Trifoso said 171 days ago
Adorable Haunted House!
Karen Torres from BabyTatiSewingShop said 170 days ago
wonderful...!
Stacey and Kim from SignMeUpCraftShop said 170 days ago
Super cute project!
Ira Stolbova from IraStDesigns said 170 days ago
Thank you sooo much for sharing this great recipes, will definitely try few tomorrow !!!
Helen from DraughtsmanShop said 169 days ago
A very good idea!